In oceanography, terrigenous sediments are those derived from the erosion of rocks on land; that is, that are derived from terrestrial environments.(Pinet, 79) Consisting of sand, mud, and silt carried to sea by rivers, their composition is usually related to their source rocks; deposition of these sediments is largely limited to the continental shelf.(Pinet, 79-83)

Sources of terrigenous rocks include volcanoes, weathering of rocks, wind-blown dust, grinding by glaciers, and sediment carried by icebergs.

75% of sediments are terrigenous- it is present everywhere.

See also

• Pelagic sediments

These are transported by wind, rivers and icebergs.

References

• Pinet, Paul R. Invitation to Oceanography St. Paul: West Publishing Company, 1996. ISBN 0-314-06339-0